Monday, February 20, 2012

Dennis On "Our Lives Are Not Analogies"



Our Lives Are Not Analogies





analogy

 [uh-nal-uh-jee]  


a·nal·o·gy

similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based: the analogy between the heart and a pump
Logic . a form of reasoning in which one thing is inferred to be similar to another thing in a certain respect, on the basis of the known similarity between the things in other respects.


Dennis Diehl - EzineArticles Expert AuthorThere were times when I thought the WCG/COG life was just one big analogy.  You know, taking something in real life and making it fit the kind of person I was supposed to be, the way I was to act or think or life I was supposed to live in relation to the Church, Christ, Jesus, God and the Kingdom.  Life was a parable.


The Bible is full of analogies where I was a seed and the ground was the life I lived depending on where I landed.  As a kid, when I first heard that analogy, I wondered why it was the poor seeds fault the sower of seed (God) threw the seed (me) on the rocks, the hard ground, the wayside or the gutter.  Hey!  That's not my fault!  You threw me there.  If where you threw me is a place where I cannot root down and hold on, that's not my fault!  You threw me there!  I would have needed another analogy such as "a seed is like a worm in the earth..."  etc...  That way, by analogy at least, I could have the quality and the ability of being able to move to where the environment was more conducive to my growth.  Gnome sayin'?


Of course, often we were sheep in pastures and had sheep-like qualities as both ministers and members.   We needed to be herded because our tendencies as sheep was to wander off.  We could be good sheep or bad sheep.  We could be smart sheep and stay put or dumb sheep and go over a cliff.  We needed to be fed as evidently we could not eat on our own or find our own food.  We were dumb before our shearers (boy now there is an analogy!), and often "opened not our mouths."   (Also a painful regret)   We had to be led to green pastures and shown when and where to drink. We were controlled by rods and staffs which I assume meant that it was ok for the Shepherd to whack us on the skull when our attention wandered.  COGers are well aware of this analogy and they are endless.  


Sometimes we forget sheep are kept just for sheering or for entrees.  I am just not comfortable with sheep hood as the way to define my life.  Maybe that works for others. 

Well, if we keep up the analogy, if not a sheep then a wolf.    Wolves, being the carnivores they are, are not the friends or to be the friends of sheep.  Of course, we need wolves or there get to be too many sheep and God made wolves too, so there ya go!  As wolves, one is a stalker, a lurker or a chaser of sheep.  At least this is what those who are by analogy Shepherds tell the sheep.  But mostly it is not so.  In real life I don't eat sheep or lamb very often so the analogy breaks down a bit. 

The Apostle Paul loved analogies even if he butchered them.  

Galatians 3:16
New American Standard Bible
Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.


Now hold your horses here a bit.  (Nice analogy those horses). 

 "Seed" in  this context means descendents as in offspring.  It is PLURAL already!  Paul says since the word is not "Seeds", it must refer to the once seed...which is Christ.  I don't think so!!!!!    Paul is saying if the OT meant descendents of Abraham it would say, "The promise is to Abraham and to his seeds."  Really?   Feed my sheeps?   If I say "feed my sheep," it means I have a herd of sheep not one sheep.  I'd have to say, "Please feed that sheep," to make it one sheep.  Anyway, I think Paul bunged this up and it never seems to have come up again. 

Paul goes on to produce one of the most jumbled analogies known to theologians.  In Galatians 4:21-31 he makes an analogy between Sarah the wife of Abraham and Hagar the slave woman and her children.  Somehow the children of Hagar end up being the Jews of Jerusalem and Isaac and his descendents end up as the "Children of promise," symbolizing the uncircumcised Gentiles who accept Jesus.  Really?  He uses Isaiah 54:1 to kick off his analogy but really makes a scripture mean what it never meant, which like Matthew, he was very good at.  

Somehow the Father of the Circumcision, Abraham, ends up the Father of the uncircumcised Gentiles.  Theologians , real ones, call this "over reaching."  The whole idea of hardened hearts needing to be circumcised is kinda creepy.

Paul makes all sorts of amazing analogies that tend to fall apart upon examination. But he so badly wanted to get the Gentiles into the Covenant, making things mean what they did not mean was raised by him to an art form.  

In 2 Corinthians 3:13-18 Paul goes nuts with an analogy that simply is not true.  He says that when Moses brought the Decalogue to Israel that he covered his face to hide from the people his fading radiance.  Paul then goes on to say "Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their heart but when anyone turns to the lord, the veil is taken away."  What a slaughter of context Paul makes with this analogy.  He makes it mean the exact opposite of what it did mean!  Any good Bible reader can discern that when Moses descended from the mount with the tablets of stone, his face shown.

Very impressive.  When Moses spoke to the people about the law and when he talked with God in the Tabernacle he did so with his face uncovered.  When he was NOT discussing the law or in the presence of God, he covered his face.  The point was the radiance referred to the divine and should not be taken lightly or used in a profane way.  
Ex 34:35


"And the Children of Israel saw the face of Moses,

that the skin of Moses face sent forth beams;

And Moses put the veil back on his face, until
he went in to speak with HIM. '



Paul, by analogy, tried to make the fading radiance to mean the glory of the law was passing away.  However, when Moses radiated, there is no mention of fading radiance and no veil when speaking about the law.  Paul reverses the intent of the OT to make his non-point.  Paul turns the veil into a blindfold over the eyes of the Jews when they read their own Scriptures.  As a result they miss Jesus in those scriptures.  Of course the reason they really missed it is because Jesus is not in those original scriptures and making a bogus analogy and making their scriptures mean what they never meant is not going to work. 


It's a dumb analogy and Paul has lots of them as he wrenches scripture from its context to present his Gospel, quite different from anything Peter, James, John or Jesus would have done.

Anyway, enough of Paul, we had our own modern analogies to herd we sheep.

I went to College at "The West Point of God's Work."  Nice analogy, but pretty weak.  I'm pretty sure the rigor at West Point was a bit more than that I found at AC, or "God's College."  

Once, I had a bad cold and was told wine was good for that.  I had not been a drinker of anykind before AC or the Church.  I grew up with it, but it was no big deal.  At any rate, I sat studying "the Harmony (now understood as disharmony) of the Gospels drinking wine out of a gallon bottle.  The first time I lifted my head to look up, I got dizzy and fell out of the chair..."full of the spirit."  It was hilarious.  Nice analogy.
I very often studied on Saturday evenings alone at my dorm. The Dean got wind of this "study thing you do," and told me I needed to get out more.  He made me attend Basketball games and be the flag boy in the white coat during the Pledge of Allegiance.  I hated it.  On top of that, I had to watch Dave Pack play basketball and I don't like basketball and about the worst thing you could do to me was make the spiritual life into a sports analogy.  From "gun laps" where we ran out of bullets to "team work," which I never really saw much of in reality,  I hated sports analogies  about the Christian life.  They can be abused.  God becomes the team owner, Jesus is the Coach and no matter how hard I tried, I was either the batboy or just a team member.  Members had it worse as they were mere spectators.  

So, I've been a seed, a sheep, a wolf, a shepherd, a snake, and a living sacrifice.  I've landed on fertile ground, sorta fertile ground, unfertile ground, rocks and ravines.  I've had roots and I've fallen over because I had no roots.  I have built my house on sand or on the rocks depending.  I have fallen down, away and flat.  I am once born, twice dead , a wandering star and vomit in the mouth of God...

Man!   All I ever really wanted to be was authentic, genuine and myself.   I only wanted to know what was true and what was not. I didn't want to be scorched by the dragon nor stalked and devoured by a roaring lion.   Raging wave of the sea?  Not me!  No better than a bunch of sticks that are only good to be burned?  Oh please. 

 Is that asking so much?  Yes, evidently, from religion it is asking way way too much...but life is not really an analogy. It is a gift and lasts about as long as the winds across the plains or an ice cube in hell. Religion needs the skeptic like the ocean needs the sand or all risk being swept away in a tsunami of confusion, error and mere compliance like a sheep before her shearers is dumb... Hey, great analogy!!!


Dennis C
DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Prophet Thiel Is Not Happy With Us


Prophet Thiel included the above picture on his news story as PROOF that Guttenberg is a military man 
who will come to overthrow the United States.  
Perhaps what the Prophet has failed to see here is that maybe he was doing a dry run 
on the Charlotte offices?  See the bombs ready!



All of the blogs that have been picking on Prophet Bob's uber-fascination with Karl Guttenberg has finally gotten under his skin.  He writes today:

Yet, certain anti-Church of God critics seem to be besides themselves in their often inane criticism of my coverage of his possible end time role.  There were a few comments from critics that I ran across yesterday, and instead of dealing with much of the nonsense, I thought that perhaps I would quote most of one of the comments that was posted about me in response to an article someone posted partially titled The Prophet Thiel and Beast Guttenberg… at the “Banned by HWA” site:
I guess Bob just didn’t notice that Herr Guttenberg plagiarized…his doctoral thesis, it was an enormous scandal, his degree was revoked, and he resigned from the government in shame and fled the country?
Why wouldn’t one think that his political career is over?

Ya know Bob, if you would stop writing inane speculation on your blog we would not be making fun of you.  Alas, you and many other Armstrongites cannot seem to control yourselves and write all kinds of silliness.

He continues:

Part of the problem with many of my scoffing critics is that they either do not know certain scripture or do not accept the writings of the Bible as inspired.  Since I do accept scripture, this might be a good time to quote a scripture (with three different translations) that some of my critics seem to have overlooked related to the final King of the North:
21 His place will be taken by a reject, a man spurned and passed over for advancement. He’ll surprise everyone, seemingly coming out of nowhere, and will seize the kingdom. (Daniel 11:21, THE MESSAGE)
21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. (Daniel 11:21, New King James Version)
21 ‘In his place will rise a wretch: royal honours will not be given to him, but rather he will insinuate himself into them at his pleasure and will gain possession of the kingdom by intrigue. (Daniel 11:21, New Jerusalem Bible)
 Prophet Bob needs to understand that there are many readers of this blog (over 650 hits a day now) do consider the Bible to be inspired but who cannot and will not interpret it through the lenses of Armstrongism.  Yes, others no longer hold it to be inspired or infallible, but that is not the point.  The point that all the blogs are bringing out is how you interpret what is written in the Bible to make it fit your narrow view of the world.  You can take the Bible and any other great book and relate it to the world around you, yet it doesn't make it true.

Taking events that happened thousands of years ago and labeling them enforce today shows how little biblical understanding Prophet Bob has today.

The Prophet continues with this speculative, unsubstantiated comment:
Since his resignation in early 2011, former German Defense Minister Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg keeps making political and military contacts in the USA and elsewhere that he may be able to use later.  His plan appearance later this week in Georgia (see Karl Guttenberg to Speak in Georgia) is further proof of that.

Prophet Bob yet again claims Guttenberg is here doing reconnaissance as he makes military contacts for the invasion of the Untied States by Germany.  Just because he is speaking in Georgia does not make him a potential world invader or the Beast.  How stupid can some people get?

It looks like I got further under his skin by calling him a "prophet".  He makes this comment in relation to an earlier posting that I did where I listed all of the prophecies about Guttenberg that Thiel claims to have come to pass:

Thus far, several of my speculative predictions about Baron Guttenberg have come to pass (details of several of them are in the article COGwriter Speculations on Karl zu Guttenberg Shown Correct).  Interestingly, the anti-COGwriter critics and scoffers pretty much overlook the accuracy of my speculations (although some do sarcastically refer to me as “Prophet Thiel”).

For those of you that missed Prophet Thiel's amazing list of predictions that have come true, here it is again:

Here are summaries of 23 things from the Bible that Thiel says describes Guttenberg:

Here are 23 biblical-related items to consider:
  1. Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is a leader from middle Europe.  His blood line crosses into various countries in Europe (at least Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Croatia). So did the Roman empire. (cf. Daniel 7:24; 9:26-27; Isaiah 10:5-11).
  2. He has a military background as he was “Minister of Defence” for Germany..  The Beast of Revelation 13:1-4 is shown to be a military political leader.
  3. He is considered to have some economic expertise. (cf. Daniel 8:25; 11:24; Revelation 13:16-17; 18:3)
  4. He is an extremely popular politician (he was the most popular in Germany in early and late 2010). (Revelation 13:4,8)
  5. He is considered an expert on foreign policy. (cf. Daniel 11:27)
  6. He is some type of Catholic. (cf. Revelation 17:7-11)
  7. Because he is married to a Lutheran (and she apparently did not convert prior to marriage), he apparently is not super strict about being Catholic (some other news reports I have seen also seem to confirm this in other ways as well). (cf. Revelation 13:4,8; Daniel 11:36-38)
  8. His wife also has political connections, and both of them have made various public  “morality statements.”  Hence suggesting that the Guttenbergs represent the moral high ground in Germany. (cf. Revelation 13:4,8)
  9. He seems to have ecumenical tendencies, and that is what the “Great Monarch” of Catholic prophecies and the final Beast of Revelation would likely have. (cf. Revelation 13:4,8; Daniel 11:36-38)
  10. He may be considered to be entitled to use the “King of Jerusalem” title that Otto von Habsburg held. (cf. Daniel 11:31)
  11. Charlemagne was a Frank-German leader and “Holy Roman Emperor.”  The Baron is a descendant of the Habsburg line of rulers (the Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were from the Habsburg line; cf. Revelation 17:9-11). Certain Catholic prophecies indicate that the “Great Monarch” will be a descendant of Charlemagne. Bible prophecies seem to point to the resurrection of an empire that has revived in the past (Revelation 13:1-3; 17:9-11)
  12. He has the right to select the priest for his parish.  Hence, the idea that political leaders should be involved with religion is something he was raised up believing. A leader combining church and state is prophesied in Daniel 11:37-38 and Revelation 13.
  13. The understanding that his title means “Baron of the Holy Roman Empire” is interesting as the Book of Revelation describes a power that would resemble a re-emergence of “the Holy Roman Empire” and Catholic prophecy specifically tells of a time when “The Great King will be crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the reigning Pope” (Birch DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996,, p. 555). Baron is a title of nobility, but not one of royalty. (Daniel 11:21)
  14. The fact that he has been the most popular political leader in Germany suggests that he has a certain charisma that would be consistent with that which is expected for the final Beast leader (cf. Daniel 7:20,11:21-24,31; Revelation 13:3-5).
  15. He is believed to carefully cultivate his public image, which seems consistent with the cunning (Daniel 8:25) and other practices of the final Beast leader (Daniel 11:36-38).
  16. Because a Catholic monarchist relative (Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg) of his was involved in a plot against Hitler in 1944 (and killed for it in April 1945), he may be perceived as less of a threat than others with a German background. (cf. Daniel 8:23-25; 11:24)
  17. He is considered to be a smooth talking attractive leader. (cf. Daniel 8:25; 11:21)
  18. Some of his entertainment actions suggest that beneath his exterior he may have certain “vile” tendencies (cf. Daniel 11:21). His plagiarism scandal seems consistent with this as well.
  19. He has a problem with arrogance and vanity (Daniel 11:36-37).
  20. He is in a type of self-imposed exile and it is possible that the King of the North is supposed to have a period of exile. (cf. Daniel 8:23-25; 11:21-23)
  21. He has risen to powerful positions quite quickly.  And may do that again. (Daniel 8:23-24)
  22. He has been ridiculed and rejected by many. (Daniel 11:21)
  23. He has a certain expertise when it comes to computers and surveillance. (cf. Revelation 13:15-18).

 Prophet Bob close with this final proof for the reason he is infatuated with Baron Guttenberg.  We are in the end times and are commanded to "watch."  Armstrongism has been at the end times for well over 70 years now.  Every single speculation, prediction and utterances has been an abysmal failure.  You would think Prophet Bob would have learned to keep his mouth shut by now.  Especially since Rod Meredith has countless failed prophecies as his legacy.













Damn! No More Paragliding At The Feast!



Apostle Malm has laid down the law for Feast observances in his cult.  Gone are the days of setting up Feast sites in vacation hot spots where you can go enjoy yourself if the preaching gets too boring.  Now you have this to look forward to:

Feast sites are NOT to be established in vacation hot spots.  They should be in poorer areas with few outside attractions.  We are commanded to spend our tithe on food and drink and sharing with others not on expensive vacations.


The Spring and Fall Festivals are to be observed for the full seven plus one  days; with the intermediate non Sabbath days as appointed times or partial High Days upon which work pertaining to observing the Feasts may be done.  Such work would include cooking and cleaning which are NOT to be done on Sabbaths or High Days.


The entire two festivals are to be filled with spiritual feasting with physical feasting, song, music and dancing for joy in the Lord.  They are NOT to be spent in paragliding, car racing, or other activities which take away from what God commanded and intended.


We are to observe the festivals as God commanded and not by doing our own thing.

Don't you just hate it when you can't go paragliding when you know Richard Ames or David Hulme is going to be speaking! Now you have to attend Feast sites in poor areas like Detroit or South Central Los Angeles.  The only thing you get to do is go out and eat. Eat and drink, eat and drink, eat and drink. It will soon turn into eight days of drinking when people are forced to be around each other constantly.

If Apostle Malm is really a man of his word then we will see where his first Feast site is located this year. I dare him to do it in the poor areas of Detroit.  Will they trek off to Haiti for their Feast?  Will they go to poor areas and feast with the natives who have nothing.  Will they be welcomed to the table to sup with them?  Or, will they be Malm's servants as his cult members sit down to huge elaborate meals just for the elect?